Last updated 1 August 2018

The Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws – General Law Reform) Act 2008 (Cth) amended laws relating to the government superannuation funds’ recognition of same-sex relationships and affords parties of same-sex couples the same rights and responsibilities as parties of heterosexual couples. It constitutes a major change in the law in relation to the treatment of same-sex relationships and the children of same-sex relationships.

The Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth) also provides for a simpler regulation of superannuation funds in recognising same-sex relationships.

A number of Commonwealth civilian and military superannuation schemes, including the judicial pensions scheme, which provides death benefits, are also available to parties of same-sex couples and children of a same-sex relationship.